Elmhurst Official Wins DuPage Forest Preserve Post In Election

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst park board members Susan Smentek and Carolyn Ubriaco have taken opposite sides on the contentious issue of where to place the bandshell at Wilder Park.

They also faced each other in Tuesday's election for the District 1 board seat on the DuPage County Forest Preserve.

Democrat Smentek won in a landslide with 58 percent of the vote, with 27,549 votes to Republican Ubriaco's 19,548, according to unofficial results.

Smentek's margin of victory was similar to other Democrats in DuPage County races.

On Wednesday morning, Patch left a message with Smentek about whether she plans to leave the park board in light of her victory.

Park board members make nothing, while forest preserve members receive $50,000 salaries.

Since 2025, Smentek has favored building a bandshell on the lawn east of Elmhurst's Wilder Mansion.

Ubriaco, meanwhile, favored another location at Wilder Park. Many residents opposed blocking the mansion, perhaps the city's most iconic building.

The park district's survey indicated most residents were against placing the bandshell next to the mansion.

In January, a 4-3 board majority decided to build the structure on the mansion's east lawn.

Smentek later joined the majority in opposing efforts to put the issue on the ballot.